Type-writing machine.



G. E. TOMLINSON.' TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19,1907.

Patented Mar. 15,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IIVVEYIVTOR WITNESSES:

' Br f I ATTORNEY UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. TOMLINSON, F SYRAUUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR T0 ALEXANDER T.BROWN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YGRK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

Application filed September 19, 1907. Serial No. 393,694

'lype-llriting Machines of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invcntionrelates to typewriting machinesandespecially to an improvedarrangement of the type bar and keyboard systems.

Although my invention is applicable to typtnvriting machines generally.it is designed with more especial reference to frontstrike orvisibletypewriters, the objects being to combine the advantages of afull keyboard machine and a shift machine, and to make provision for theuse of large types if needed and for the writing of a large number'ofcharacters.

To thi above and other ends which will here-matter appear, my inventionconsists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations andarrangements of parts all of which will be fully set-forth herein andparticularly pointwlout in the claims.

in the m-co|np: ni vingdrawings, Figure l is a front to rear verticalsectional view of a frontstrike typewriting n'iachine having my invent nembodied therein. as much only of said machine being shown as isnecessary to illu.--trate the application of my invention to it. big. 2is a diagrammatic plan view in-- cluding a developed view of the typebar system and a plan view of the keyboard 'lhc dctailcd construction ofthe typewriting machine may be of any suitable sort but for thc purposeof illusti'ttion l have shown in Fig. l a front-strike typewriter, themain frame of which comprises a. base l, from which risc posts 2supporting a top plate l. tiroovcd rails t and 5 supported by the topplate cooperate with anti-friction balls t to support a rectangularcarriage truck Tto the end bars of which a platen frame 8 is pivoted at'lhe platen 10 has a shaft 11 which is pivoted at its ends in thestationary framework of the machine. Near one end said rock shaft hasdepending therefrom an arm to which is connected by a link 17 with anupright arm .18 projecting from a rock shaft 20 which is pivoted at itsends in the base i. Said shaft 20 has projecting forward tht-a'efromncar either end an arm 21 which is connected by a link 22 with a shiftkey lever 23 having a shift key 2t mounted on its forward end in thekeyboard of the machine. The .printing keys 2') are mounted on theforward ends of key levers 26, which at their rear ends are pivoted on across bar or rib iZY'forming part of the base l of the machine and cachof said key levers is provided with a restoring spring 28. Each of thekey levers '26 is connected by a link with an arm 31 of abell cranksublcvcr, which sub-lever has also an arm 32 which is connected by alink 33 with a lug 5H- projccting from the heel of one of the type bars.The sub-levers 2-31, 32 are pivoted in hangers 35 secured to a segment36 mounted in the stationary framework of the machine and having on itsupper face a pad or type rest 37. The type bars are shown pivoted toindividual hangers 2&8 llltllllllttl. on a type bar segment lO'and eachof said type bars has at its rear end-an eye ell which is connected by.a ball bearing 42 to a boss -.t-I projecting from one face of thecorresponding l1a1igcr -lS..-ll1e construction is r lltll that when anyof the keys )5 is struck thc corresponding typc bar will be thrown tothe printing point. its type striking againstthc front face of theplaten ll; and if one of the shift keys it be depressed the platen willbc elevated, turning about the pivots E) until the shaft ll of saidplaten is arrested by a hook-like arm 45 of the truck T-or by a suitablestop carried thereby.

The parts thus briefly described are not of my invention and they areshown here merely for the purpose of illustrating or exemplifying theapplication of my invention to a typewriting machine.

'and other type bars have only one type each. The type bars are arrangedin two sets, those of one set being designated in the drawings byreference numeral 46 and those of the other set by reference numeral 47,the type bars of one set alternating with those of the other. The typebars L6 when in normal position, extend farther toward the front of themachine than the type bars L7 and each of said type bars l6 has mountedon its free end a type block 48 having two types thereon, and when oneof these type bars is operated the inner type will strike the platen ifsaid platen is in normal position, and the outer type will strike theplaten if said platen is in shifted position. The type blocks 48 nearthe ends of the segment are flared as is always the e. se in type blocksof this character and the extent of this flare or cross setting of thetype blocks varies progressively from nothing at all. at the center ofthe segment to a maximum at each end of the segment, all as is usual infront strike machines having a case shift.

Each of the type bars a? has mounted thereon-a type block 50 and in mostinstances there is but one type on each of these type bars, this typebeing farther toward the rear of the machine than the type blocks 48.The type blocks 50 may be caused to assume a position in rear of thetype blocks 48 in any one of a variety of ways, but as shown in thepresent instance the type bars a6 and i7 are of substantially the samelength but the pivots of the type bars 4L7 are set farther back ortoward the rear of the machine than those of the type bars 46.

As shown in the present instance there are twenty-nine of the type bars46 and a like number of the type bars i7 and there are fifty-eightprinting keys 25. As here snown these printing keys are arranged 1n sixtransverse rows and the rows of keys considered in a fore and aftdirection are oblique, this oblique arrangement being due to the use ofthe key lovers as and to the particular arrangement shown. if, however,some other form of connection between the keys and the type bars wereadopted said keys mi ht be arranged differently in rows extending aft ofthe machine. It will of course be understood that those keys 2 5 whichare connected with type bars having two types thereon are each adaptedto print either of two characters, depending on whether or not the shiftkey is operated; whereas those keys 25 that are connected with type barshaving only one type thereon are each adapted to print only onecharacter. In the particular instance shown in the drawing,thelifty-eight keys are adapted to print eighty-live characters; butlive of the type blocks 48 are shown with only one chara punctuationpoint or directly fore and acter and the four middle type bars 47 areshown adapted to carry two ty )BS each, so that ninety-four characterseoul be put into the machine, if desired, by merely filling out theblank spaces in the type blocks already provided and without adding anyadditional mechanical parts. The characters on the type blocks and onthe cor respo1'idi1'1 keys may be arranged in whatever way best suitsthe operator. For example, all of the letters of the alphabet might beplaced on those key levers that carry two types each, so that the samekey would always be struck to write a given letter and the shift keywould be used in case it was desired to write a capital. In such anarrangement the characters other than letters, or most of them at least,would be put on those type bars which carry only one type each. Thismight be the arrangement best suited to some operators accustomed tousing a shift machine, such for example, as the Remington. I prefer,however, to have the capital letters and the small letters on separatetype bars and separate keys so that the shift key is never used inwriting letters but only in the writing of characters other than theletters of the alphabet. As shown in the present instance, all of thosekeys in the three back rows are connected with the type bars 46 havingthe double type blocks, and the capital letters are printed by thesetype bars and keys, whereas the small letters are arranged in the threeforward rows ofkcys and their types are on thetype bars 47. Host of thethree rear rows of keys carry in addition to a capital letter some othercharacter, such as a numeral or other character that it may be useful tohave in the machine. The keyboard arrangement shown in the drawing isapproximately that of the Smith lremier No. 2 typewriter.

I prefer to mount the type blocks, as

shown in the drawing, so that the inner type stands directly over theend of the type bar, the outer type projecting toward the front of themachine in the cases of those type bars near the middle of the segmentor toward one side in the cases of those type bars near the ends of thesegment. I prefer this arrangement partly because the letters are usedvery much more frequently than the other characters and a better imprintis provlded when the types are not off-set from the bars. It will beseen therefore that by this arrangement the most frequently used typesare arranged directly over the type bars, thus avoiding blurring of theprinting by the twisting 0r cranking of the'type bars.

other type bar and by having the alternate type bars extending not sofar toward the front of the machine, there is ample room By having adouble type block onlyon every for the double type blocks 48, even atthe ends of the segment, and even if, as shown in the present instance,the capital letters on these type blocks be made unusually large. Asmost of the type bars 47 have only one type on each bar, there is plentyof room for these type bars and types between the type bars 46. In thecase of those type bars 47 that lie near the middle of the segment,however, two types may be mounted on each type bar, if desired, becausein this part of the segment there is noflaring t0 the type blocks andthere is consequently ample room for the two types.- I have shownprovision for an additional type on each of the four type bars 47 nearthe middle of the segment. As the type bar 47 at the extreme right-handend of the'segment has nothing in the way to prevent, I have shown twotypes mounted on this type bar.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by- Letters Patent, is

1. In a front strike typewriting machine,

a type bar system having a full complement of types andcornprising aseries of type bars arranged in two sets, the type bars of one setextending farther toward the front of the machine when in normalposition than those in the other set, and type bars of one set eachhaving two types mounted thereon and type bars of the other set eachhaving only one type mounted thereon.

2. In a front strike typewriting machine, a type bar system having afull complement of types and comprising a series of type bars arrangedin a plurality of sets, certain of said type bars when in normalposition extending farther toward the front of the ma chine than otherof said type bars, and certain of said type bars each carrying two typ sand other of said type bars each carrying only one type.

In a typewriting machine, a type bar system comprising segmentallyarranged type bars each carrying two types andsegmentally arranged typebarseach carrying only one type, the two sorts of type bars alternatingwith each other.

4. In a typewriting machine, a type bar system. having a full complementof types and comprising a series of segmentally arranged type bars ofsubstantially the same length pivoted in staggered arrangement,

" some of said type bars each having two types thereon and other of saidtype bars each having only one type thereon.

In a typewriting machine. the combination of a series of segmentallyarranged type bars having a full complement of types, and a series ofkeys for operating said type bars, said type bars being arranged in two'sets, certain type bars of one set each having provision for aplurality of types and certain type bars of the other set each havingprovision for only a single type, and

I those keys near the'back of the keyboard be ing connected with one setof typ'cbars and those keys near the front of the keyboard beingconnected with the other set of type bars.

(i. In a typewriting machine. the combination of a keyboard having aseries of printing keys, some of said keys each having more charactersthereon thanothcr of said keys, and printing devices controlled hysaidkeys for printing said characters. said printing devices includingt-ypes',' a1 d the printing mechanism controlled, by each key having thesame number of types controlled thcr clrv as there are characters onthat. key.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination .of a keyboard compris aseries of keys, those keys near the hm of the k-'e hoard bearing thecapital letters and characters other than letters and those keys nearthe front of thekeyboard bearing the small letters,-means controlled bysome of said keys to print only one character each, and means controlledby other of said keys to print a plurality of characters each.

In a typewriting machine, the combination of printing mechanism, caseshift mechanism including a case shift k y, and a keyboard havingprinting keys, certain of which are each adapted to print either one ofa plurality of characters depending on whether or not said shift key isoperated, and other of which keys are not adapted for use in conjunctionwith said shift key, all of said printing keys being adapted to actuatesaid printing mechanism simultaneously with the operation of said keys,

9. In a typewriting machine. the combination of printinginstrumentalities. a ca e shift device, and a series of keys, certain ofsaid keys being adapted for use in conjunction with said casc'shiftdevice and certain of said keys not being adapted for use in conjunctionwith said case shift device and all of said keys being adapted toactuate said printing instrnni-entalitics simultaneously with theoperation of said keys.

10.In a typewritin-g machine, the combination of a series of type barsdivided into a plurality {of sets. the type bars of thedifthercomprinting keys for actuati 11;; said type bars, and case shiftmechanism for use in conjunction with certain only of said type bars andkeys, all of said keys being adapted to actuate said type barssimultaneously witli ferent sets having different numbers of typemechanism, all of said keys bein adapted to actuate said type barssimultaneously with the operation of said keys.

12. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination of two setsof type bars, the type bars of one set alternating with those of theother set, the type bars of one set extend ing farther toward the frontof the machine than those of the other set, the type bars of the setthat extend farther toward the front having provision for two types oneach bar and some of the t pe bars of the other sethaving provision foronly one type on each I bar but certain of the type bars of the latter Iset having provision for two types each.

13. In a visible writing machine, a type bar system having a fullcomplement of types and comprising a series of segmentally disposedpivoted type bars arranged in two sets, type bars of one set each havinga plurality of types mounted thereon and some at least of the type barsof the other set each having only one type mounted thereon.

14. In a visible writing machine, a type bar system having a fullcomplement of types and comprising a series of segmentally disposedpivoted type bars arranged in two sets with the free ends thereof inparallel planes. type bars of one set each having a plurality of typesmounted thereon and some at. least. of the type bars of the other seteach having only one type mounted l thereon.

15. In a visible writing machine, the combination with type bars havinga full complement of types, of printing keys, certain of said keyshaving aplurality of indices there: on and certain of said keys havingonly a sing e index or character thereon, the keys each having a.plurality of indices thereon 1 being each connected with a type barhaving I a plurality of types thereon and the keys each having only asingle charactcr thereon being connected each with a type bar havingonly a single type thereon, and case shifting mechanism.

16. In a visible writing machine, the coinbination oftwo sets of pivotedsegmentally arranged type bars of substantially uniform length, thepivots of the type bars of the two sets being arranged in parallelplanes, type bars of one set each carrying a plurality of types and typebars 'of the other set each carrying only a single type, keys for thedifferent type bars, and case shifting mechanism, the type bars of thetwo sets having a full complement of types.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a plurality ofindividually operable type bars having a full complement of types,certain of said typo bars each having a. plurality of types and certainof said type bars each having only a single type, and meansfor'rendering any type on any bar operative to print.

18. In a typewriting machine, the cornbination of a set of segmentallyarranged type bars, certain type bars of said set having each aplurality of types on a bar and a second set of segmentally arrangedtype bars, certain. type bars of said set having each only a single typeon a bar, the type bars of the second set being arranged between thetype bars of the first mentioned set.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of segmentallyarranged type bars, certain of said type bars having each a plurality oftypes on a bar, and other of said type bars having each only a singletype on a bar, the type bars having a single type being arranged betweenthe type bars having two types and having their type blocks in a planeparallel to the planein which the type blocks having two types thereonare situated.

20. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a segment, a set ofsegmentally arranged type bars mounted on said segment, and a second setof segmei'itally arranged type bars mounted on said segment, the typebars of the two sets being of substantially uniform length, the typeblocks of the second being arranged between the type bars of the firstmentioned set and nearer the segment than are the type blocks of thefirst mentioned set, certain type bars of the first set. having twotypes each and certain type bars of, the second set having each one typeonly.

Signed at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York,this 31 day of August A. D. 1907.

I/Vitnesses:

'O. C. SoHonNnoK, J. A Pnoss.

